BYU Studies Quarterly

Volume 32 Issue 3 Article 21

7-1-1992

Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith Jean Bickmore White, ed.

Paul H. Peterson

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Recommended Citation Peterson, Paul H. (1992) "Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith Jean Bickmore White, ed.," BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 32 : Iss. 3 , Article 21. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol32/iss3/21

This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in BYU Studies Quarterly by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Peterson: Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith<

JEAN BICKMORE WHITE ed church state andpoliticsand politics the diaries ofjobnoftohnjohn henry smith salt lake city signature books and smith research associates 1990 axxxxx 700 appp index 7500750075.00

reviewed by paul H peterson associate professor of church history and doctrine brigham young university

apostle and counselor in the first presidency prominent politician and foundercofounderco of the republican party in utah consummate businessman and community activist john henry smith 08481848 1911 was an influential latter day saint church- man in a turbulent and transitory era in volume 4 of the signature press diaries series jean bickmore white has edited smiths extensive diaries into one albeit weighty volume smith left over thirty six volumes of personal journals as well as extensive papers and letters making whites selection responsi- bility both delightful and difficult john henry a son of sarah ann libby and george A smith an apostle and counselor to brigham young was a candid chronicler told by president joseph F smith that 1 I must keep an accurate history of facts as they occur 33 john henry surely did not disappoint his church leader cousin from the mundane and superficial to the gut wrench ing john henry described events with frankness and candor I1 found myself alternately amused and saddened by his frank disclosures I1 was amused and patheticemempathetic with missionary smiths observation that dinner at a brother cardwellsCardwells featured the dirtiestdirdirtyesttyest table and meal 10 he ever saw and interested in his contrasting of the homhomliestliest women and hardly average men 40 of berlin with their handsome counterparts in paris 43 I1 was saddened to read of the comparatively few but highly unfortunate sexual indiscretions of certain elders and the resultant regret and anguish they experienced but a journal must be more than candid to be a great journal this is a good journal but certainly not vintage abraham cannon or wilford woodruff john henry smith was seldom reflective and not particularly literary his seeming modesty and reserve make it difficult for the reader to get inside the man seldom did john henry reveal himself even when recording events that would seemingly evoke passion and

Published by BYU ScholarsArchive, 1992 1 BYU Studies Quarterly, Vol. 32, Iss. 3 [1992], Art. 21

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feeling thus it was that he noted the deaths of loved ones wrote of his elevation to the apostleship and first presidency and even recorded seeing the savior with a dispassionate detachment that I1 found baffling surely he must have felt keenly about each of these events but rarely could I1 discern any overt sentiment in his journals apparently john henry restrained and modest by nature and writing under the conventions of his day was inclined to bridle his emotions having said that I1 would still maintain there is much to reward the reader who can thrash through the hundreds of ordinary and routine entries and finish the book both knowl- edgeableedgeable historians and novices will come away with a deeper understanding of the workings and challenges of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century church they will readily note that the church truly had both a temporal and spiritual dimension they will realize perhaps more fully than before that the brethren were human and reflected their environment as often as they transcended it some readers will be taken aback by the occasional accounts ofinternal disagree- ment among general authorities certainly john henry was not hesitant to record his concern and oftentimes the concern of other quorum members with what he perceived to be the authoritarian tendencies of president john taylor and the determined leadership and economic direction of president george Q cannon but balanced readers will also observe perhaps even be impressed by the ability of capable strong minded men to disagree sharply then resolve their differences without rancor or bitterness in the end with few exceptions their united devotion to the kingdom transcended their per- sonal differences and what of john henry the man though reluctant to talk about himself the sheer number of his recordings affords us some glimpses into his character diary entries reveal that he was a highly literate but not especially literary man A voracious reader he apparently spent every free day reading while interested in many subjects he seemed to be singularly fond of history and biography he also enjoyed theater and attended performances whenever he could but john henrys greatest loves were reserved for his wives family and church his devotion to his wives and children and his dedication to his

https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol32/iss3/21 2 Peterson: Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith<

118 BYU studies

church set him apart as a man of strong loyalties he was also endowed with a remarkable ability to relate to the broad spectrum of humanity As white notes in her prefatory bio- graphical sketch the salt lake tribune was not in the habit of lavishing praise on mormon leaders in the early twentieth century but was unabashed in its praise of this particular mormon apostle I1 was also impressed with how often john henry was able to solve internal squabbles in the various stakes and wards of zion clearly elder smith was a peacemaker editor white did not take her editorial duties lightly in addition to an introduction she included a chronology bio- graphical tables and an extremely helpful listing of all promi- nent characters mentioned in the journal rather than suc- cumbing to the temptation of many editors to limit annotation because it displays pedantry or self promotion a lame excuse in many instances for failure to do ones homework white has provided explanatory notes that are comprehensive and I1 would add essential for most readers certainly this fine volume is one ofthe most professional and polished ofany that signature books has produced

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